5 The Religious Settlement

Question 1

Act of Supremacy

Answer 1

• Declared monarch as head of Church of England - all clergy had to swear allegiance to them.

Question 2

Act of Uniformity

Answer 2

Addressed church’s appearances which had essences of protestant and traditional features.

• Book of common prayer in all churches - failure to comply leads to punishment; vague wording to fit to each belief.
• Priests wore vestments.
• All attend church each Sunday and holy days - failure is 1 shilling fine; deters poor; wealthy could afford so could skip without opposing Elizabeth.

Question 3

Royal injuctions

Answer 3

Further instructions enforced, by Sir William Cecil, to all clergy to reinforce settlement.

• Clergy to teach congregation about Act of Supremacy.
• Church refusers to be reported to Privy Council
• Parish has english Bible
• Preachers need licence from government.
• Monuments and ‘fake’ miracles were pure superstition and banned - ‘fake’ brought hope for real miracles which reassured Catholics.
• Vestments to be worn by clergy.
• Pictures allowed - popular; some local communities took pride in their decorations.

Question 4

Ecclestiastal Commision

Answer 4

Ensures clergy were disciplined in applying terms of the settlement; could punish disloyal clergy.

Question 5

Impact of settlement on clergy

Answer 5

• 8000 out of 10,000 swore oath
• only one bishop swore oath - rest dismissed and replaced with 27 new protestant bishops (had to work on loyalty)

Question 6

Impact of settlement on the people

Answer 6

• Vague wording of book of common prayers appealed to catholics and others.
• Places of Catholic majority did not have harshly enforces settlement - allowed people to be recusant.
• Some protestant acted in enthusiastic violence - defaced Catholic statues and ornaments.

Question 7

Enforcement of settlement by Church of England

Answer 7

• Visitation and inspections to ensure priests had taken the oath.
• Monitor professional licences for people like doctors, teachers and midwives - included in visitations.
• Many inspectors were radical protestants which opposed Elizabeth initial desire - resulted in destruction of statues etc.